The invention relates to a liver microtissue, preferably a liver microtissue comprising at least 3 different phenotypes of liver cells obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells encapsulated in a single three-dimensional closed microcompartment. The invention also relates to a method for preparing the liver microtissue and its uses in treatment or prevention of liver failure.

Methods and compositions for the biological repair of cartilage using a hybrid construct combining both an inert structure and living core are described. The inert structure is intended to act not only as a delivery system to feed and grow a living core component, but also as an inducer of cell differentiation. The inert structure comprises concentric internal and external and inflatable/expandable balloon-like bio-polymers. The living core comprises the cell-matrix construct comprised of HDFs, for example, seeded in a scaffold. The method comprises surgically removing a damaged cartilage from a patient and inserting the hybrid construct into the cavity generated after the foregoing surgical intervention. The balloons of the inert structure are successively inflated within the target area, such as a joint, for example. Also disclosed herein are methods for growing and differentiating human fibroblasts into chondrocyte-like cells via mechanical strain.

A hybrid microcapsule including: a shell that comprises one or more biocompatible material, exosomes contained within the microcapsule and one or more therapeutic cells encapsulated within the microcapsule, wherein the therapeutic cells are capable of releasing one or more therapeutic agent(s). Also disclosed are methods of making the hybrid microcapsule and methods of treating a subject including administering the hybrid microcapsule to the subject, wherein the therapeutic cells contained within the hybrid microcapsule release the one or more therapeutic agent(s) to the subject and wherein the hybrid microcapsule releases the exosomes to effectively attenuate an immune-based foreign body response (FBR).

The invention pertains to a method for isolating a nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid is stabilized in a hydrogel. The hydrogel can be dissolved to release the nucleic acid without breaking the molecule. A preferred hydrogel is alginate. The invention further concerns a method for sequencing the nucleic acid and a composition comprising the hydrogel and the nucleic acid.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a dissolvable or degradable artificial circulation system for engineering, culturing, and integrating large volume tissues. Also provided are methods of using large engineered tissues prepared using the degradable artificial circulation system for clinical applications and for various applications such as large-scale production of therapeutic or consumable products, drug discovery, and toxicity screening.

A method for meat production by in vitro cell culture includes isolating tissue from an animal or plant source and making a cell suspension of cells, and growing the cells into a solid or semi-solid structure that mimics an animal organ by growing the cells on a food-grade scaffold in a culture medium. Culture medium comprising growth factor of (i) genetically same or similar species to the cells and/or (ii) genetically same genus to the cells is used. Expression of one or more proteins in the growing cells may be increased by altering a level of one or more micro RNAs that regulate expression of the protein. Additionally, the growing cells may be co-cultured with bioengineered cells that secrete growth factors and cytokines that support the growth of the cells in situ. The co-culturing technique reduces or eliminates the need for animal-derived fetal bovine serum in the culture medium.

The present invention discloses an extracellular matrix comprising a modified polysaccharide consisting of repeating disaccharide units whereby in at least 11% of the disaccharide units one primary alcohol group is oxidized into a carboxylic acid.

The present invention relates to a method of generating a hydrogel comprising alginate dialdehyde (ADA) and collagen, which are covalently cross-linked, and optionally, further component(s), and to uses of such hydrogel. The present invention further relates to using the hydrogel for culturing cells, in particular neuronal cells, and for further uses, such as 3D bioprinting. The present invention furthermore relates to a cell culture system comprising a hydrogel of alginate dialdehyde (ADA) and collagen, which are covalently cross-linked, and, optionally, further components. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of generating a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture using a hydrogel according to the invention.

The present invention relates to a 3D bioprinted skin tissue model, a method for providing said model and the use of said model. The 3D bioprinted skin tissue model comprises at least one bioink A, at least one cell type A, at least one factor A, wherein the bioink A comprises at least one biopolymer, a thickener, at least one extra-cellular matrix or a decellularized matrix, and optionally a photo initiator and/or cellular additions, the at least one cell type A is an epidermal, dermal and/or hypodermal cell or cell line, and the at least one factor A is a growth factor, protein and/or molecule that stimulates altered or abnormal metabolism of cell type A.

Provided is a method for manufacturing cell-containing blocks having steps of: preparing an standardized size mold by 3D printing (three dimensional printing) using a biocompatible elastic material; injecting a thermosensitive colloid into the mold to form a thermosensitive mold; injecting a hydrogel containing cells in to the thermosensitive mold and curing the hydrogel containing cells to form the cell-containing blocks; separating the thermosensitive mold and the cell-containing blocks at a temperature higher than a solidifying point of the thermosensitive colloid. Also provided are method for assembling the cell-containing blocks in a target configuration by using an assembling mold defining the target configuration and made of a thermoreversible material.